Helping others

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to use your free time and skills to help other people and make Tower Hamlets a better place to live. It’s also good for you.

You can make new friends, feel part of your community, and keep mentally and physically fit during these challenging times. You will gain skills and experience to boost your confidence and increase your employability.

There are always plenty of local volunteering opportunities available in Tower Hamlets. You can make a regular commitment of an hour or two a week.

You can also choose a short-term or one-off role if you don’t have much free time. There are even things you can do from your own home. There’s a volunteer role for everyone.

Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets (VCTH)

Contact the Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets to volunteer with a local charity, community organisation or public sector body.

They help people who live, work or study in Tower Hamlets find inspiring volunteer roles across the borough. They have a huge variety of roles to suit all ages (15+), backgrounds, interests and abilities. Roles include

• mentoring
• befriending
• helping at food banks
• supporting refugees
• youth work
• giving advice
• environmental projects
• health and social care
• event stewarding
• office admin
• teaching
• charity trusteeships

In partnership with the council, Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets is running the Covid-19 Recovery Volunteering Hub.

You will find some fantastic volunteering roles advertised on the Hub like

• helping your local community recover from the pandemic
• supporting vulnerable residents during the cost of living crisis

You can volunteer whether you are a student, unemployed, working or retired.

How to get involved

It’s so easy to get started. Join thousands of local people already volunteering by registering on the Volunteer Centre's website. You can browse the roles currently available. We update roles every week.

If you need help finding the right volunteering role, or have questions, contact a Volunteering Advisor at VCTH. Lines are open Monday to Thursday. Call 07595 219 603 or email info@vcth.org.uk.

Donating to foodbanks

Donate to your local foodbank. The number of families using foodbanks in Tower Hamlets has increased dramatically over the last few years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

You can help our most vulnerable residents get through the Cost-of-Living crisis by donating long-life food, drink, and toiletries to your nearest foodbank.